Heritage NZ considers flats’ category 1 listing
A spanner has been thrown in the works for plans to develop Wellington’s Gordon Wilson Flats as Heritage New Zealand has announced it will consult on a proposal to make them heritage-listed.
Yesterday, Heritage NZ said the McLean Flats and Gordon Wilson Flats at The Terrace were being put forward for a category-one heritage listing.
Victoria University of Wellington, owner of both buildings, revealed plans earlier this year to demolish and revamp the Gordon Wilson Flats into a ‘‘front door’’ for the city with an outdoor entrance plaza and new teaching and research facilities.
Dr Jamie Jacobs, Heritage NZ central region director, said it had started progressing its heritage proposal before the university put forward its development proposal.
Jacobs said the university was supportive of Heritage NZ’s proposal, as it wanted clarity on the buildings’ heritage values.
‘‘We believe this report give them that.’’
Already, Wellington City Council recognises the Gordon Wilson will
Flats as a heritage building in its district plan. An Environment Court ruling upheld this listing in 2017, after the university sought to have it removed from its heritage schedule.
This means any demolition is currently a ‘‘restricted discretionary activity’’ in the hands of the council and would require resource consent.
A city council spokeswoman confirmed the McLean Flats building was not listed as a heritage item by the council, and a certificate of compliance confirming its demolition was received in July. This does not require resource
consent, listed.
Inclusion on Heritage NZ’s list of historic places would formally recognise at a national level the historic, heritage and architectural values of both buildings.
Heritage NZ said both sets of flats had the potential to return to their original use when built in the mid-20th century, to help alleviate the current accommodation shortage.
Public submissions for Heritage NZ’s flats proposal is open until October 13. Once complete, a board will consider them before any decision is made.
as
it
is
not
currently